Last Updated: May 2, 2022
Best Vacations With Little Walking: Cruises, Beaches, And More
Active vacations are not for everyone. Sure, some people love to get out and spend hours exploring new places, but there are a lot of people with limited mobility who just can’t spend hours on their feet walking around unfamiliar places. Others simply don’t want to spend their time walking and would rather use the time off of work resting and relaxing.
Cruisers, resorts, and safaris are just a few of the many ideas we have for you. Whether you just want to rest or you have limited mobility and you can’t spend too much time on your feet, these ideas for vacations with minimal walking are just what you need!
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Cruise Ships
Cruise ships are a great option for a vacation with very little walking, whether you have limited mobility or you simply want to relax and spend your time in a horizontal position. They’re perfect for people who still want to travel and explore the world but can’t spend too much time on their feet.
The best thing about cruises is that they can take you pretty much anywhere in the world. The industry is booming, and massive ships transporting thousands of passengers are constantly sailing around the world. Pick a cruiser that sails to a destination you like, board it, and spend the next week or so enjoying life and spectacular views!
Cruisers will often provide everything necessary for a nice vacation. The best and most popular cruise ships have restaurants, bars, shops, and even venues with live entertainment. Some of the pricier options will also include karting tracks, golf courses, and even mini bowling alleys, so you can do something different every night while walking just a few steps outside your bedroom.
Additionally, it’s important to note that most cruisers are equipped to accommodate people with disabilities, including those who have trouble walking. Ships that set sail in US waters are even bound by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) to have all the necessities for people with limited mobility, including the following:
- Elevators and ramps
- Wheelchair-accessible entertainment venues
- Wheelchair-accessible staterooms
- Service dogs
If you want to properly experience new places, you will need to get off the cruise ship and do some exploring at some point. But you might not need to do any walking – a lot of cruisers will have their own vans and buses that will take passengers on sightseeing rides. You can discover new cities from the comfort of a car seat, and when you’re done they’ll take you right back to your ship!
Safari
Safari trips are perfect non-walking adventures for people who want to do something fun exciting but with minimal movement. You’ll drive around a safari in a Jeep, exploring spectacular nature and seeing all sorts of wild animals, sometimes even getting up close and personal with them.
What’s even more exciting is that there are a lot of safari tours that specifically cater to the disabled. The tours are optimized so that everyone can enjoy them equally, and accommodation options are comfortable and equally luxurious for everyone.
In most cases, you can’t even tell the difference between rooms that aren’t wheelchair accessible and those who are – more often than not, the lack of stairs and a wider door frame will be the only difference between the two.
Beach Vacation
A beach vacation is an ideal solution for a vacation with minimal walking. The only walking you need to do is from your accommodation to the beach, and then you can spend hours just soaking in the sun and not doing anything else.
For a vacation with as little walking as possible, you’ll want to find accommodation that’s right on the beach. A nice AirBnB with a beach in your backyard is a great option for people who’d rather have privacy than be in busy resorts, especially if there are a few restaurants close to the house. Beachfront hotels are also a good alternative if you’d rather have room service than privacy.
Resorts
Resorts are great for people with limited mobility because they have everything you could possibly need just a few minutes away. Restaurants, pools, shops, and pretty much anything you require will be just a short walk away, and you won’t even have to leave the resort unless you really want to.
Larger resorts will often offer transport solutions for vacationers who want to get out and explore, but without doing all the walking on their own. This is especially common in large resorts that aren’t exactly on the beach – instead of walking for 15 minutes in high heat, you can just ride on an air-conditioned bus right up to the beach.
Ski resorts are an excellent option for people who want to spend some time in the mountains but without doing too much walking. You don’t even have to ski if you don’t want to – instead, spend your time relaxing in the hot tub, getting massages, and exploring the different restaurants within the resort.
Las Vegas
It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a vacation with little walking, but Las Vegas is a great destination for people with limited mobility. With its vast hotel complexes and resorts that are the size of smaller villages, pretty much everything in Vegas can be served to you on a silver platter.
You can spend days without ever leaving the hotel if you want since you’ll have everything you could possibly need just a few steps away. The fancier hotels like the Mirage and the Bellagio feature live entertainment and multiple restaurant options, in addition to the casinos that are designed to keep you occupied for hours on end.
In addition to that, it’s also worth noting that Las Vegas is one of the most wheelchair-accessible cities in the world. It’s possible to request a wheelchair right at the airport, which happens to be just a few minutes away from the Las Vegas strip. Most hotels are designed to be easily traversed in a wheelchair, plus there are ramps for wheelchair users in Las Vegas trains, busses, and even certain taxis.
On top of all that, lots of hotels in Vegas will organize daytime excursions for visitors, and they’re usually suitable for people with limited mobility. The bus tour of the Grand Canyon is one of their most popular daytime trips, and there are many other excursions to choose from!
Trans-Siberian Railway
Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway for an epic vacation that requires minimal walking. There are dozens of train journeys you can choose from, and they range from “quick” seven-day excursions to adventures of 20+ days.
Explore Europe, chase the Northern Lights, see the castles of Transylvania, or go on any adventure you like – the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express offers several journeys through Europe and Asia, and each has something unique to offer.
The only catch is that the UK company is very pricey. Their private trains are equipped with all the luxuries you could need on a 14-day trip, and the ticket prices start at about $15,000 for one bed in a twin sleeper compartment on a journey of some seven days.
It’s definitely an experience only for those with deep pockets, but it certainly is one of the best and most exciting kinds of vacation that require minimal walking.
Additionally, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express trains stop in foreign cities to let their passengers explore them properly. They also organize guided tours, so you should be able to explore new cities along the way without spending too much time on your feet.
If this is a little out of your price range, there’s nothing to worry about – how does $210 for a bed in a 4-berth sleeper on a seven-day journey from Moscow to Vladivostok?
The experience is not quite as luxurious as the Golden Eagle trains, but it’s still possible to ride other trains on the Trans-Siberian Railway at reasonable costs. If spending a week on a train sounds like a good idea to you, be sure to check out all the different options for riding the Trans-Siberian Railway!
Explore Cities With Hop-On, Hop-Off Buses
Hop-On, Hop-Off buses are perfect for exploring big cities while staying comfortable in your seat. They’re double-decker tourist buses that take you on tours of big cities, and they’re available in most big cities from Abu Dhabi to Zanzibar!
Whether you’ve traveled to New York, Paris, or Kuala Lumpur, you will be able to purchase tickets for the sightseeing Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. You can choose from several types of tickets and you can even get bus tickets that are valid for several days.
What this practically means is that once you purchase a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus ticket for a specific time period, you can ride on the bus whenever and however you want. You can literally ride around the town in circles or you can get out at each stop, do a little exploring, and get back on the bus.
Another great thing about this tour is that it eliminates the need to pay for public transport since these buses operate on the most popular tourist routes. Also, tickets are usually inexpensive, especially when you consider that you’re getting a guide who will explain all the important city sights and free WiFi while you’re riding around the town.
The only problem with Hop-On, Hop-Off buses is that they’re usually not wheelchair accessible. They rarely have ramps, and you must climb steps if you want to be seated on the upper deck, which offers the best city views.
Switzerland
Switzerland is a stunning country abundant with vacation opportunities for people who can’t walk for too long. The country boasts an amazing railway network that makes travel easy and efficient, plus it’s home to countless cables cars and mountain trains that are famous for wonderfully scenic journeys.
Whether we’re talking about a train ride to Top of Europe or a cable car ride from downtown Zurich to mount Uetliberg, this country is the ideal destination if you can’t (or don’t want to) spend too much time walking around. And in case you ever change your mind, you’ll be happy to know that Switzerland is also famous for its mesmerizing nature which boasts more hiking and walking trails than we could count.
On top of that, Switzerland also has a lot of rivers and lakes, which are popular for boat cruises. It’s not the same experience as on a Norwegian Cruiser, but you can still spend a week on a boat without having to do any walking at all. Travel from Paris to Zurich on the Rhine, or cruise all the way from Basel to Bergen
Chase The Northern Lights
Chasing the Northern Lights is another awesome idea for a vacation that doesn’t have to include a lot of walking. It’s not a great option for people with extremely limited mobility and those who use a wheelchair since you will need to do some walking to get around, but for the most part, you’ll be riding around the Nordic countries in an off-road vehicle.
Book a guided Northern Lights tour or a proper chase adventure that includes transport and drinks for the best experience. These experiences often include a seasoned guide/driver, who will take you on the adventure of your lifetime. More often than not, you’ll travel between Norway and Sweden in the same evening, as you embark upon your quest to see the colorful Aurora Borealis.
The main downside is that these experiences tend to be pricey, especially when we’re talking about private tours for groups. Another option would be to go on bus tours – these are also very common in the Nordic countries, and they’re significantly cheaper than private tours. Instead of riding around in an off-road vehicle, you’ll be riding on a bus, but you’ll still have an experienced guide to explain everything.
The only issue is that the buses can’t quite reach all the places that passenger vehicles can, so you might not be able to experience the most magnificent views of the Northern Lights. You’ll still see the Aurora somewhere, but it won’t be quite as magical.
Then again, if you’ve never gone on a private Northern Lights chase, you won’t even know what you’re missing out on, and the bus tour can seem just as wonderful!
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About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
